In my opinion 2009 is going to be a better year, 2008 was a **** up start to finish.
Amazing optimism that you have!
20 major retailers that will fold in the first quarter and increased unemployment, etc, yeah things are looking just rosy.
Due to the whole uncertainness people cut their luxuries first, and that means paintball.
Our only positive hope is that Robbo and the British industry collective can sort out a more stable playing infrastructure for us, and that we have enough players left to field it.
But to answer the original question
I'm a forklift tech, who gets around every form of business from retailers to builders to paper factories. The building industry and all it's associated suppliers have died on their feet, any major manufacturer is struggling because of downturn in sales, shipping has all but stopped, even waste recycling has died because the far east isn't buying anything, But the people who are still busy are the little companies who have seen little or no change, i've even had a few that are flat out and cannot keep up. For my company our first 9 months of last year were the best ever?
I think the thing to do in these times is just be sensible and don't panic